Yahoo Autos Michigan State football grades for the Spartans' performance vs. Minnesota
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch grades Michigan State's performance in a 34-7 loss to Minnesota on a scale of 1-10 ...
OFFENSE: 0
When you gain 1 yard on six plays in the first quarter and don’t pick up a first down until your opponent has 13 of them and 17 points, you’re not doing offense well. For a second straight week, MSU couldn’t run the football, with backs Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard tallying 36 yards on 10 carries. This week, the Spartans also couldn’t get anything explosive going in the passing game, either, with Payton Thorne completing 17 of 24 passes but only for 132 yards and no completions over 18 yards. Thorne also had three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble on first-and-goal — and MSU never found a rhythm or looked remotely threatening.
DEFENSE: 0
MSU’s defense just couldn’t get off the field against the Gophers, who were great on third down (converting 10 of 12) but rarely had to be, because MSU was so bad at stopping them on first and second down early on. The Spartans’ secondary was gashed on quick passes and throws to the tight end and MSU’s pass rush, for the second straight week, never got home. Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan looked every bit as comfortable as Washington’s Michael Penix did a week ago, maybe more so, completing 23 of 26 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Minnesota also rushed for 240 yards on 48 attempts. So MSU’s defense did nothing well.
